This holiday season, our troops are returning to face a new battle: a staggering unemployment rate, as high as 20% in some states. I know firsthand.

When I returned from Iraq, I felt like I entered a whole new war zone. Juggling the mortgage. Keeping up the house. Driving my kids to school. All while trying to find a job out of uniform to support my family. As a fighter pilot, my comfort zone was flying at 20,000 feet – not navigating the civilian workforce.

That’s where IAVA stepped in.

Through IAVA’s Combat to Career program, I was one of 6,000 vets this year to receive new business attire from jcpenney – all for free. It’s going a long way in this economy. And I’ve got a new boost of confidence to get out there for job interviews as I finish my New GI Bill.

IAVA has helped me get back to basics at home. But as these wars end, we need your urgent support to ensure all Iraq and Afghanistan veterans can take advantage of the same resources and opportunities.

After two Iraq tours, I plan to put my new suit and degree to good use working as a mental health counselor for veterans. But I’m just one success story. This holiday season, let’s band together to lay the foundation so thousands of more vets can walk the path to a great career in 2012.